Jeff Richmond

I grew up on a farm in Virginia, surrounded by creeks and marshes, abundant with all manner of living things. The farm was rich in birdlife, from nesting eagles and fish hawks, to chickadees and wrens nesting around the house. My mother, a teacher, had several bird books and we often sat in the yard or took walks identifying each one we saw. She also made sure I knew about the natural history of each bird—what it ate, where it nested, if it was a seasonal migrant, etc. She instilled an interest in birds—actually all creatures—that has persisted throughout my life, travels, and writing. The farm and my mother’s influence led me to degrees in biology and environmental sciences, after which I became a writer.